- Factual errors: If the moon were in fact composed largely of heavy metals like uranium, scientists would have already determined this by measurements of the moon's density, which is easily measurable from Earth. An incorrect density measurement would have meant that our figure for the moon's mass would be severely mistaken, and spacecrafts attempting operations near the moon would fail to enter orbit properly.
- Factual errors: Though several scenes depict sound in space, there is no medium through which sound could pass. There is no sound in space.
- Factual errors: The crew of Shuttle Perseus are seen walking about the cabin regularly, as if on Earth. However, in all these scenes, they are either in orbit, accelerating by rocket, or inexplicably hovering over the moon. In all these situations, Earth-like gravity would not exist.
- Factual errors: When the Perseus enters the fracture on the moon, it comes to a stop and begins hovering with no visible means of propulsion. In order to stay aloft, the shuttle would need to constantly fire rocket exhaust downwards towards the moon.
- Factual errors: Several errors in spaceflight protocol plague the film.
- Factual errors: Much of the plot of the movie hinges on the generation of a "magnetic charge." Magnetic charge only exists if magnetic monopoles exist, which has yet to be demonstrated experimentally. In any case, current theory about magnetic monopoles and magnetic charge is not reflected at all in the movie.
- Factual errors: Space flight command rooms do not rely on municipal sources for power. They have multiply redundant independent generators to prevent the kinds of power outages that occur several times in the film. This also goes for the communications equipment.
- Factual errors: When the Perseus is in the rift on the moon, it has constant radio communications with Earth. However, the rift walls clearly extend at least several hundred meters above the shuttle on either side. Since the moon is composed primarily of iron (or uranium, as the movie suggests) this effectively shields against all radio transmissions unless the Earth happens to be directly above the rift.
- Factual errors: On two occasions, Perseus collides with large meteoric debris. Considering the relative velocities of the debris and the spacecraft, both of these collisions should have been sufficient to fatally damage the craft by themselves.
- Factual errors: In one scene, two fighter jets are sent up to investigate and intercept what turns out to be a piece of meteoric debris falling to Earth. Such an object would be moving so quickly, that jets would not have had time to scramble before it impacted the ground, let alone intercept and the follow it before firing a missile at it.
- Revealing mistakes: After the asteroid collides with the moon, the female researcher examines an important scientific document. On the document's cover page, Astronomy is incorrectly spelled "ASTRONOMEY."
- Factual errors: It was announced that the storm was just upgraded to a tropical storm with 75 mph winds, which would put it at a category 1 hurricane.
- Revealing mistakes: The "ignition module" that John is pulling out from the shuttle's circuits is in fact the circuit board of a standard ATX computer power supply adapter (a low quality and quite old one), complete with its ATX, P4 and 4 pin connectors that are clearly visible. Anyone who opened the case of a PC can recognize it.
- Factual errors: Technicians at the satellite control center speak as if they will fly the probe through a debris field in real time. In actuality the time it takes for a signal to get from a probe in lunar orbit that shows what is in the way added to the earth and then for earth to send a signal back to the probe and then for the probe to show that it is doing the maneuver would make such control impossible. It takes 1.3 seconds for a signal to get from the earth to the moon.
- Factual errors: When performing evasive maneuvers, the shuttle Perseus uses its main engines (at the rear), then flies as if the wings were providing lift. To move the shuttle in space in any direction other than forward is done using the thrusters located on various surfaces.
>>> WARNING: Here Be Spoilers <<<
Goofs below here contain information that may give away important plot points. You may not want to read any further if you've not already seen this title.
- Factual errors: SPOILER: The only way the shuttle could get to the moon in time was using the experimental atomic rockets. Once there, ground control finally figured out that they didn't have enough power to save the moon unless they used the very same atomic rockets to boost the power of the explosion. They dutifully ejected the rockets into the crack on the moon. Without the rockets for the return trip, the shuttle would take too long to return to earth. The crew's supplies of oxygen, food and water would most likely run out.
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